Edition after edition, Equatorial Guinea continues to confirm that it is no longer a surprise in the CAN.
The national Nzalang quietly disposed of Guinea-Bissau, thanks in particular to a hat-trick from its captain Emilio Nsue (4-2).
A big victory which allows it to take control of group A of CAN 2024 while waiting for Ivory Coast - Nigeria and to take a big step towards qualification.
For the first match of the second day of the group stage, the stands of the Ébimpé stadium remain desperately empty.
Only a few groups of Equatoguinean supporters brave the heat to encourage their team.
A void which can be explained both by the ticketing problems encountered by the organizing committee and CAF, but also by the fact that the second match of the day in the same venue concerns Côte d'Ivoire.
The human tide will therefore wait.
Also read🔴 Follow Ivory Coast – Nigeria live
On the pitch, the players move with unbearable heat.
The feeling is forecast to be over 20 degrees.
A fact which logically impacts the game on the field while the first minutes resemble a long round of observation with a midfield battle without rhythm.
Equatorial Guinea bides its time, enduring the first skirmishes of the Lusophones.
His first awaits the quarter of an hour of play even if Miranda's right-footed shot, at the edge of the area, is caught without difficulty by Djoco (15th).
The trigger?
A few minutes later, the emblematic captain Emilio Nsué launches on a through ball and takes advantage of a missed intervention from Sori Mané.
He won his duel against Djoco and gave his team the advantage (22nd, 1-0).
Miranda almost doubles the lead, but finds the crossbar (26th).
A deserved equalizer then a penalty refused
The refreshment break comes at the right time for the 22 actors, who stick out their tongues and struggle to exert high-intensity pressing.
The break restores strength to Guinea-Bissau which obtains in quick succession a good free kick (36th), their first clear opportunity by Mama Baldé (37th) and above all an equalization thanks to an own goal from Obiang ((38th , 1-1) first attributed to Franculino Dju.
Guinea-Bissau even got a penalty whistled just after kick-off when the referee criticized Saul Coco for mowing down the near-scorer in the area.
Analysis of the images, however, reveals that the intervention of the Las Palmas defender was perfect (40th).
Shoot ➡️ Score ➡️ Celebrate!
🤩🇬🇶#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 |
#EQGGNB pic.twitter.com/f5nIN2s6Na
— CAF - FR (@caf_online_FR) January 18, 2024
Double from Nsue
After a quarter of an hour in the locker room air conditioning, the Nzalang hits hard.
On a clearance from the goalkeeper, the Lycaons defense completely failed.
Miranda just has to pick up the ball and hit hard (46th, 2-1).
He is also at the origin of the third goal, an overflow on the left and a powerful cross which Djoco cannot intercept and which Emilio Nsue is responsible for sending into the back of the net (51st, 3-1).
Guinea-Bissau is no longer there and Equatorial Guinea benefits.
Launched behind the defense, Nsue dribbles past the goalkeeper and finishes to score his third goal.
The joy of a hat-trick was initially denied to him due to an offside signaled by the referee but the VAR finally made him celebrate the first hat-trick of the competition late (63rd, 4-1).
34 years old, replaced as scorer and he scores a hat-trick.
#CAN2023
Nsué.
🇬🇶🎩 pic.twitter.com/mDDrCpWKSG
— 🏆 Actu Foot Afrique (@ActuFootAfrique) January 18, 2024
Guinea-Bissau has a last gasp when Saul Coco loses the ball in the position of last defender.
Tchami recovers but loses his face-to-face with Owono by trying to put the ball between his legs (70th).
The rest of the match is anecdotal like José Correria's late goal in stoppage time (4-2, 90th + 2).
After eight long minutes of stoppage time, the Equatoguinean stand let out its joy.
Read alsoFind the ranking of group A
Equatorial Guinea sits at the top of Group A and, barring an improbable scenario, will once again see the round of 16 of the African Cup.
A temporary position which could also last in the event of a draw between Ivory Coast and Nigeria a little later in the day.
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